Trump allies win reelection, will return to Congress next year
Several allies of former President Donald Trump will be heading back to Congress, after handily winning reelection Tuesday evening.
Rep. Byron Donalds, a top surrogate for Trump's reelection campaign this year, was one of the first House races called, according to projections by the Associated Press. Donalds has been on the campaign trail stumping for Trump and making appearances targeted at appealing to Black voters.
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His win was followed soon by fellow Floridian and member of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus Rep. Anna Luna.
Should he win a return to the White House, Trump will need these and other allies in Congress to enact his agenda.
Republicans are expected to take over control of the Senate, having no seats to defend in battleground or blue-leaning states. Meanwhile, the GOP is fighting to keep control of the House.
Were both chambers and the White House to go red this election, other lawmakers essential to helping Trump score policy wins include Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. Both Gaetz and Greene won reelection Tuesday night, easily defeating their respective Democratic challengers.
Ohio's Rep. Jim Jordan was declared the winner in his race for reelection later Tuesday evening. As chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Jordan has helped lead efforts against Trump's Democratic opponents, namely President Joe Biden. Together with House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., Jordan spearheaded a stalled impeachment inquiry into Biden earlier this year.
Jordan also garnered Trump's backing for House speaker, following the ousting of former Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. Despite this endorsement, Jordan was dropped by GOP House members after failing to get past three rounds of voting.
Trump also has friends among House leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who won his bid for a fifth term. Johnson will have to compete to keep his post next Congress, though he is a likely favorite in the event of a Republican majority.
Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., won reelection for a sixth term. She has publicly supported Trump since his 2019 impeachment trial and was among a list of candidates considered to be his running mate in 2024.
While Trump can count on a number of diehards in the House, his relationships in the Senate are not quite so stacked. But the former president still has some close allies he can count on in a potential second administration.
Among those is Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who won a competitive battle to keep his seat.
Scott's friendship with Trump dates back to when the former was governor of Florida. He has leveraged their relationship in pursuit of his leadership ambitions.
"I will protect senators' interests while helping President Trump accomplish his goals," Scott wrote in a letter to his colleagues announcing plans to run for the top Senate post. "Our country's success and our Conference's success will be dependent on President Trump's success."
Contributing: Riley Beggin
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump allies win reelection in 2024, another term in Congress
